Top construction



Jan. 1'7, 1928. 1,656,722

P. E. BRENEMAN TOP CONSTRUCTION Filed March 17. 1926 ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 17, 192s.

UNITED PATENTFFEQF..

PAUL n. nnrimiiimn,` or nnruorr, MICHIGAN, assitance fre frits sfrurinnannn con-` ,ronA'rroiL orsoufrrr nnnnfrnnrana, A conronarron or New anasnv.

T01 CONSTRUCTION.

Application med March 17, 192e. serial no. saaie."

This invention relates to vehiclebodies having tops of the permanent type, and more particularly to improvements in side rail constructions therefoigthe principal objectbeing to provide a side rail `of new, and improved design, which will be lighter in weight, more simple in construction and more economical to manufacture than top side rails used heretofore. y f

Another object is to'providea permanent type top with a side rail, the mainportion v of which is of sheet steel metal.

A further object isto provide a top ofthe permanent type with a substantially hollow side rail formed from a continuous sheet oi metal, to the free ends of which a wooden tacking strip is secured.

These, being among the objects of `the present invention, the same consists of certain features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying` drawing, and then claimed, having the above and other objects in view. c f i In the accompanying drawing which illustrates a suitable embodiment of the present invention, and in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fragment of a vehicle body provided with a top of the permanent type incorporating an embodiment of the present invention therein.

Figure 2 is a perspective sectional view taken transversely through a side rail just adjacent one of the crossbows.

Fivure 3 is a sectionalview takenl transvcrsey through the side rail of Figure 2 and longitudinally through a cross bow.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective viewl of the lower portion of a side rail, showing one of the stiifening members secured in position thereon.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the brackets used to secure the ends of the cross bows to the top side rails.

The top shown is built upto provide a somewhat similar structure to conventional tops of the permanent type and embodies a pair of roof rails or top side rails 10, as they will be called in thefollowing description, a plurality of cross bows 11 spanning the side rails 10, a front end member 12 and a rear end member 13. These several elements are first assembled to complete the top structure and are then assembled to the vehicle body as -a unit, the `side rails 10 providing the main support therefor, suitable brackets and fastening means (not shown) being used to secure the same to the, body pillars lliand body rear panel 15. Y l

- Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, it is `in two simple operations, the first of which stamps the metal to the necessary Vshape with the shaping portion 89h extending outwardly from the base portion, and the second of whichbends the shaping portion into position. The base portion, after stamping has a form corresponding to a `series lot steps,v comprising a lower horizontal portion 16, a

llower riser 17, an upper horizontal portion 18 and an upper riser `19 terminating in an inwardly turnedmarginal flange 20, `and the shaping portion 39 .after stamping,`as previously stated, extends outwardly from the base portion and is provided with a rounded j surface. j j i y e ABefore the second 'operation is performed, a number of spaced stiifening members 21 are secured to the base portion. These stiffening members 21 are preferably .shaped from sheet metal as shown in Figure L1, and are formed `to such a shapeas to provide Vhorizontal attaching faces which are secured to the horizontal portion`16 and `the horizontal portion 18, thereby preventing undue flexing fof thelower riser 17 which might be caused `byaveaving of the top.` wooden tacking strip 22 is secured to theupper horizontaly portion 18 and riser 19, substantially iiush with the flange 2O by nails or screws such as 23, notches as at 24 being cut out to allow the same to fit around the stiffeners 21. Secured by nails or screws such as 25 to the lower riser 17 and lying onthe horizontal portion 16 substantially flush with the upper horizontal portion 18, is a brace member 26 of wood or the like, notched as at 27 to allow the same to lit around the stilieners 21.

The second operation, that of bending to the final shape, may be performed at this state of assembly, and consists in bending the shaping portion 39 of the side rail 10 upwardly around the outer edge 28 of the bracey member 26 and inwardly, the marginal edge 29 being secured by suitable screws or nails 30 to the upper face of the wooden tacking strip 22. The outer surface ofthe shaping portion 39, being cored or rounded to complete the shaping of the entire top, lends additional stiffness to the structure and conceals the tacking strip 22 and stideners 21.

As previously stated, regularly spaced cross bows 1l bridge the space between the side rails l0 and hold the latter in spaced relation. These cross bows may be of wood or any other material, but in the present construction sheet metal stampings, trough shaped in form, are used as they are better adapted to be secured to the metallic side rails l0. The tree edges of these trough shaped cross bows 11 are turned outwardly to provide marginal flanges 31. Y'Velded or otherwise secured to the'end of each cross bow 11 is a sheet metal T-shapfd stamping 32, such as shown in Figure 5, so positioned that when the cross bow 11 is secured to the under surface of the flange 20, the iianges or wings 33 thereof may be welded or otherwise secured to the upper riser 19 ot the side rail base portion, which construction provides a very rigid eliicient connection between the cross bows 11 and side rails 10.

Suitable top material 34 is provided to cover the to and is fastened to the longi tudinal tackmg strips 22, a molding such as 35 also being secured thereto to conceal the edges oi the top material 34. Suitable head lining 3G may be secured to the inside'of the top structure to provide a neat inside appearance, A drip mouldinor such as 38, if desired,niay be secured to the outer edge of each side rail 10 to catch the water that may run oli the top in rainy weather. y

From the foregoing description it is quite evident that a top side rail constructed after the manner of the present invention has certain advantages over types used heretofore, that it may be easily assembled and is economical to manufacture.

Formal changes may be made in the speciic embodiment of the invention described, without departing from the spirit `or substance of the broad invention, the scope of which is commensurate `with the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A side rail for a vehicle top comprising asingle sheet of metal formed to provide a hollow structure having upper and lower portions, the inner edge of said lower portion being formed to provide a vertical and a horizontal abutment, and tacking strips received against said abutments, one of said tacking strips being positioned to receive the free end of the upper portion of said sheet. Y

2. A side rail i'or a vehicle top comprising a single sheet of metal formed to provide a hollow structure having upper and lower portions, the inner edge of said lower portion having a vertical and a horizontal abutnient, and a tacking strip received against said abutments, the marginal edge of said upper portion being secured to the upper face oi" said tacking strip.

` 3. A side rail for avehicle top formed from a single sheet of metal to provide para llel offset horizontal faces joined by a vertical wall, the metal extending upwardly and inwardly from the outer edge of the outer horizontal face to a Joint above the inne]` edge of the inner horizontal tace, a spacing member interposed between and secured to the margins of said sheet, and a brace inem ber secured against said outer horizontal face between said wall and the outer edge of said upwardly and inwardly extending portion.

4;. A side rail l'for a `vehicle comprising a single sheet off metal formed to provide a. hollow structure having upper and lower surfaces` spaced at their inner edges, said lower surface being formed to provide a vertical and a horizontal abutment and the upper surface being curved to provide a finished surface for said lop, and a taclring strip secured to said vertical and horizontal abutment on said lower surface and to the free edge of said uppersurface.

Signed" by me at Detroit, Michigan, U. S. A., this 12th day of March, 1926.

PAUL E-` BRENEMAN.

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